UT-Arlington squeaks past UTSA

By Mercedes Mayer, For the Express-News

Updated 1:00 am, Thursday, February 2, 2012

ARLINGTON — Looking at the box score, UTSA coach Brooks Thompson should be able to decipher why his team barely missed ending Texas-Arlington's 11-game winning streak, not to mention the Mavericks' first game in their new, $78 million College Park Center.

The Roadrunners shot a dismal 37.1 percent from the field — their fourth-worst effort this season — and their potent outside attack that came in ranking sixth in the country (41.3 percent) could only muster 22.7 percent from long range, their second-worst outing of the season.

Those numbers paired with a big 46-33 rebound disadvantage totaled a 67-66 win for UT Arlington (16-5, 8-0 Southland), which has a two-game lead in the West division.

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“They got their pressure going in the first half, and it really hurt us,” said Thompson, whose Roadrunners (14-8, 6-2) had won five in a row coming in. “Then they ended the first half on a 12-2 run that really hurt us.”

Seconds before, Kevin Butler made two free throws to put UT-Arlington up 67-64. With it being the first points for either team in more than three minutes, the Mavericks' record crowd of 6,228 was on its feet.

The Roadrunners jumped out to a 9-0 lead to start the game, and UT-Arlington didn't hit its first field goal until the 15:21 mark. But that basket started a run of 10 points in 54 seconds for an 11-9 Mavericks lead.

A 15-2 run midway through the first half put UTSA up 31-24 with 5:17 until intermission, but the Mavs started another quick scoring spurt. UT-Arlington finished out the first half on a 12-2 run, capped by Reed's fast-break dunk with 16 seconds left for a 40-33 advantage.

“We want to be tough with the ball,” Thompson said. “We weren't attacking. It's going to be a maturation game for our team.”